Sermons on Movie Metaphors:

Death: The Last Enemy

Contributed by Antonio Silveira on Feb 16, 2012

We see a lot of movies about ghosts, afterlife, spirits, vampires, underworld creatures. People have a need to fantasize about what happens after we die. Let us see what the bible tells us.

1 Corinthians 15:26 - The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Death is the last enemy for a number of reasons 1. It is the final thing we will all have to face when we get to the end of our lives 2. It's the last step of our journey on Earth 3. It's our graduation day for the Heavenly life 1. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:26

Denomination: Baptist

Forgiveness!

Contributed by Bala Samson on Dec 10, 2013

We are bombarded on all sides with ‘revenge theme’ movies, violence and blood through media; in the midst of all this cacophony, it is soothing and refreshing to read about a man who forgave the people who harassed and traumatized him

Nelson Mandela! Mathew 18:35”……. forgive your brother from your heart." Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. Christo Brand was his jailor. Brand started to work on Robben Island off Cape Town in 1978 when he was 18 and Mandela was 60. At such a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:35

Denomination: Pentecostal

Angels On Duty

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Feb 4, 2024

With all the books, TV shows and movies featuring angels, and how they’re depicted in art, you’d think we knew a lot about them. Actually, we have a lot to unlearn from popular culture.

Billy Graham relayed an incident at New Hebrides, an island group in the South Pacific: One night, the headquarters of missionary John Paton was surrounded by a hostile indigenous tribe intent on violence. Paton and his wife prayed for deliverance. When daylight came, the would-be attackers were ...read more

Denomination: Congregational

No Wonder Our Eyes Wander

Contributed by Michael Bates on Sep 5, 2023

Pornography is everywhere on TV, in the movies, and online. Adultery is now widely accepted. Sexual sinfulness is rampant. How can we resist sexual temptation and be victorious over sexual addiction? The answer...through the divine power of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says in 2 Samuel 11:1-5 CSB In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-5, 2 Samuel 11:14-17, Matthew 26:41, Galatians 5:16-17

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Fitting In

Contributed by Dale Pilgrim on Feb 13, 2011

comedian Lenny Bruce gives our Christian psychology a metaphorical cattle prod shock when he said, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.’” I suspect it has a lot to do with fitting in.

“Fitting In” John 17:11-19 I read the prologue to a story called Girl in the Middle. The girl is Kim Satinsky who is in eighth grade. She says, “You would think that being in a clique is fun but take my word for it: It’s not. They make me wear expensive things when I’m not really rich and tell me ...read more

Scripture: John 17:11-19

Denomination: Salvation Army

Abundance

Contributed by Howard Strickland on Jan 5, 2011

ur God is a God of abundance. Here Jesus is using a metaphor of Himself being a shepherd over sheep. Moreover, the sheep that listen, follow and stay in His presence will always have pasture. (Abundance) Here Jesus is speaking about a good shepherd in con

Abundance John 10: 9-11 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 ...read more

Scripture: John 10:9-11

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Blessings Of Hardships

Contributed by Fr. Rian Adams on Aug 26, 2019

Jesus said he came to, "send fire on the earth." This sermon takes a unique approach on this idea and uses the fire metaphor as a purging of the things inside us that hinder us from becoming who we can be through God.

The Blessing of Hardships Since this Gospel reading is intense, I thought I’d begin by admitting something kind of funny about it. When I read it this week, I pictured Jesus at a Charlie Daniels concert singing, “Fire on the mountain run boys run.” It also made me wonder, “… how am I supposed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Episcopal

The Anchor Of The Soul

Contributed by Paul Dayao on Aug 21, 2025

Using the metaphor of a ship caught in a violent tempest, this sermon introduces the Christian hope found in Hebrews 6 as a "sure and stedfast" heavenly anchor for the soul, providing an unshakeable foundation during life's storms of anxiety, grief, and uncertainty.

Sermon: The Anchor of the Soul Text: Hebrews 6:17-20 I want you to imagine for a moment a small vessel upon the great and mighty sea. The sun is bright, the water is like glass, and the journey is pleasant. But as any mariner will tell you, the sea is a fickle master. Without warning, the sky can ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 6:17-20

Denomination: Baptist

Stepping Into The New Year

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 30, 2025

The literal suggestion to "refresh yourself" can be viewed as a metaphor for our spiritual life. Often, we seek refreshment and rejuvenation in worldly comforts or recognition, which may momentarily satisfy but do not truly fulfill the deeper needs of our soul.

1. REFRESH YOUR HEART 1 Kings 13:7 "The king said to the man of God, ‘Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.’" In this narrative, King Jeroboam attempts to entice the man of God, who has just challenged the idolatrous practices at Bethel, with hospitality ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 13:7, Psalm 51:10, Isaiah 43:18-19

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Who Is The Lord Of The Ring Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Sep 21, 2003

Satan wanted Jesus to bow down before him... how dare he? What possible reason would Satan even have to ask such an outrageous thing (part of a series on the book and movie trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien).

OPEN: Several years ago, Christian Herter was running hard for reelection as Governor of Massachusetts, and one day he arrived late at a barbecue. He’d had no breakfast or lunch, and he was famished. As he moved down the serving line, he held out his plate and received one piece of chicken. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Is There A Scrooge In You?

Contributed by Jeff Krist on Jan 7, 2003

This is an illustrated sermon using clips of the old 1950’s movie Scrooge. How our past directly effects our present and future. But with Jesus Christ love, we can forget what’s behind and reach for the prize in Him.

Is there a Scrooge in you? Intro: This morning I want to talk about a certain man, because of holding on to his past he became Sound Crew This is the title intro of movie Cue for Clip 1 – “became” Scene - Music begins and Scrooge title appear’s Yes Scrooge - He never learn how to let go of his ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13, Ephesians 6:20

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Keeping Prayer In Perspective Series

Contributed by Warren Lamb on Jun 8, 2008

Think for a moment about what it would be like to be blind. No vision of blue skies, wind-blown trees, loved ones, favorite movie. Close yours eyes for a moment right now. Notice the absence of things. Notice all that is missing.

Keeping Prayer in Perspective Matthew 20:29-34 As we come to the end of our study in Matthew 20, we find a short story that is included in three of the four gospels. Keeping in mind our general rule of thumb that whenever the Bible tells us something three times it is of major significance, I ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:29-34

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Imagine A Heavenly Father

Contributed by Brian Harrell on Oct 18, 2018

From the I Can Only Imagine movie / campaign. God is a heavenly father. A perfect father. Unlike any father we have had on this planet. Using the prodigal son story we identify the traits of our heavenly dad.

Those grandkids of ours are tearing me apart. On Tuesday the call had come to evacuate the area of the coast where our whole family had rented a beach house. We had been there for a total of three days. On Tuesday night, trying to avoid traffic, Zach packed up the truck, put the kids in the car ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:20-23, Matthew 3:13-17

Denomination: Church Of God

Imagine Redemption

Contributed by John Oscar on Jul 22, 2018

Note: This sermon is inspired and provided by "City On A Hill" which owns the rights to the movie, "I Can Only Imagine". Much of the sermon structure is theirs, and it's been edited toward my personal preaching style as well as the personal illustration

IMAGINE REDEMPTION MATTHEW 5:2-12 (Third and Final “Imagine” series) At the beginning of this series, we talked about how Jesus rooted his identity in being a loved son of God. Because Jesus lived out of the identity God gave him, he was propelled into the purpose God had for him. All of us, at ...read more

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Imagine-Forgiveness

Contributed by John Oscar on Jul 15, 2018

Note: This sermon is inspired and provided by "City On A Hill" which owns the rights to the movie, "I Can Only Imagine". Much of the sermon structure is theirs, and it's been edited toward my personal preaching style as well as the personal illustrations

IMAGINE Forgiveness LUKE 15:11-24 WEEK 2 As Christian’s, forgiveness is a topic that we often talk about, but struggle living out. Jesus knew that forgiveness was not easy. -He lived his adult life in a place where a lake was the dividing line between two people groups who deeply hated each ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Assembly Of God